USDA Appoints Judith Canales as State Executive Director for TX Farm Service Agency
PRESS RELEASE
(COLLEGE STATION, TX) -May 30, 2013– Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently appointed Judith Canales as the new state executive director (SED) for the USDA Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA). Canales is a native of Uvalde, Texas and will join the Texas FSA team on Monday, June 3.
Canales is no stranger to USDA; she was appointed to the Department of Agriculture in 2009 as Administrator of Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS). Since 2012, she has served as Rural Development’s acting deputy undersecretary for operations and management in Washington, D.C.
Prior to her appointment, Canales worked as executive director of the Maverick County Development Corporation in Eagle Pass and was an adjunct faculty member for Southwest Texas Junior College.
Canales’ previous roles with USDA include serving as deputy state director for Texas Rural Development and the acting associate administrator for Rural Business and Cooperative Service in Washington, D.C. She was also appointed as the legislative representative for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Before Canales started her federal career she served as an assistant city manager for the City of Eagle Pass.
Canales’ extensive education includes a Master of public administration degree from Harvard University at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, a Master of Arts degree in urban studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and an Associate of Arts degree from Southwest Texas Junior College.
As SED, Canales will be responsible for overseeing FSA programs that protect agricultural practices to ensure a safe, affordable, abundant and nutritious food supply for consumers.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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[Photo by USDAgov]